Daniel Gibber

Israel election update: Not finished with the counting yet, and every single seat matters here. Whether Netanyahu's 'bloc' ends up on 57 or 53 matters greatly. Netanyahu's party is going to end up as the largest party by some margin. It is clear @kann_news @N12News and @newsisrael13 have been producing misleading and possibly ideologically driven polls for the last few years - that skew badly against the Likud. Given polling can influence an electorate - there should be a serious investigation into whether this was just incompetence, or something more sinister. This matters. In the end it appears @i24NEWS_HE have been closest all along. Netanyahu will not have a natural 61 seats needed to form a functioning coalition. Much of this is personality driven. In reality most of the "change" bloc could ideologically sit with Netanyahu to form a wide and stable government, but the feeling of "enough" has created real frustration in opposition parties. The inability to unseat Netanyahu because of the system makes the current Israeli situation particularly bitter and without much parallel. The leader of the largest opposition party @gadi_eisenkot has learnt nothing from history, and presented a victory speech based on partial and misleading exit polls. Beyond highlighting his inexperience, it did not tell us much. Western media wants change, and so much of the reporting was focused on this. They skewed the reporting to paint an anti-Netanyahu picture that simply fell apart as the night progessed. Being on the inside and understanding Israeli politics as I do - it really was embarrasing to watch such ideologically driven and incorrect hogwash present itself as "expert" commentary. If the results hold - it would be electorally difficult for the change bloc to depend so totally on the Arab parties for survival. If they had received a strong result (in the mid 50s), theoretically they could have tried minority rule - but if they remain in the late 40's, it would be almost impossibe to sell this to the electorate. The dependency would be too great - moreso during a period of conflict. The final results may even be slightly stronger for Netanyahu's bloc as the "soldier''s votes" are yet to be counted. And they traditionally swing right. The post-Oct 7 situation may even enhance this. In an adult world, the parties that represent the vast majority of the Israeli electorate would form a united front capable of dealing with all of the existential questions that Israel needs to face. The numbers are there. The sad reality is that the hostility Netanyahu faces, may render that impossible. The President is likely to hand the baton to Netanyahu first, as leader of the largest party, to see if he can form a government. His party are likely to test the resolve of parts of the opposition to see if some will jump ship. If Netanyahu fails, Eisenkot will go next. In the likely event neither work - pressure will be applied to find a compromise. Repeat elections are not likely to work out well for the opposition. This result really was the best they are capable of doing - and it does not look nearly good enough. And does Israel really want to be having another election with Hezbollah, Iran and Hamas still unfinished. It really needs stable goverment - and one that can handle pressure from Europe. I am not going to guess what happens next - and I am here to explain based on the evidence- not to give personal opinion. First - wait for the final score - EVERY SINGLE SEAT MATTERS.

🥹 Mizmor Lisodah: Malka Grossman A”H just two months ago at Camp Simcha with inspiring words. Let’s work on thanking Hashem through everything, and may it be a Zechus for her special neshama!

I was quite emotional this morning. I davened (prayed) at 6am. Then, I voted. In democratic elections. I then read about the $2+ Billion acquisition of 🇮🇱 quantum computing company Qlassic by intel. I was thrilled for our friends and colleagues who backed and built Qlassic. And, on a small personal level, I am excited by the new book I was privileged to write that is arriving in stores today. On the voting line at 7 a.m. I met a female soldier with an M16 slung on her shoulder. A yeshiva student. Elderly people and professors. Some with yarmulkes and others without. We live in neighborhood in this city where you see everything and everyone. I also thought about my children who are voting at special ballot boxes because they’re in the army or on the front lines now. I want you to stop and think for a minute. Almost any other country that would have gone through what we in Israel went through would not have made it to this moment. Massive protests, covid, a 7 front war, fractious politics and cacophonous social media. Indeed, arguments and disagreements are very present — but even this morning, people who will vote differently from one another at the ballot box will then get in the same tank and share a shabbat dinner. They are willing to give up their body and soul, one for the other, for something greater than themselves. Before I cast my vote this morning, I paused and thought about those who unfortunately and tragically didn’t return from the front lines and the hostages that did not return from captivity. Our biological family and our Israeli family. It is our first election since October 7th. My eyes teared up. I then thought about the heroism and self-sacrifice of young Israelis: the hundreds of days of service by our soldiers—our children—and their families stationed on the front lines and holding down the home front so that we may merit to live as free people in our land after two thousand years. This is no trifling matter. Our ancestors would have given arms and legs to have this gift. Many people around the world yearn for our freedom. We are privileged to be part of this incredible people and this amazing country at this extraordinary time. We are fortunate and blessed. I feel personally fortunate and blessed. Am Yisrael Chai. 🇮🇱

"Uncle Wes, man, he's everybody's uncle," Karl-Anthony Towns told me. I asked what Wes does for the Knicks. "Think about an uncle, man—he does everything." My story for @NYMag on World Wide Wes, Leon Rose and the friendship behind the Knicks' title: nymag.com/intelligencer/arti…

One of my students asked me if he could miss class in order to attend the @nyknicks opening night championship banner raising. We made a deal. 🫣😜

Just finished. Wonderful stuff

This is perhaps the best parenting advice you’ll ever see. Rabbi Moshe Weinberger is the best. Filmed at: @RabbiGoldberg’s event and shul

RMW yartziet of the Aish Kodesh 5787

NEW and 24 hour FLASH sale at just $13! • The Ramchal Letters • ⁠Translated and edited by Simcha Shabtai • Order your copy now 👉 ramchal-letters.com/?v=1 #ad

Omer Shem Tov, 23, spent over 16 months in the tunnels of Gaza. For over a year, he’s been sharing his story around the world — how he survived and the choices that sustained him through it all, including 450 days of total isolation, 50 of them in a pitch-dark dungeon where he couldn’t even stand up. How does a person stay sane in such an environment, let alone emerge to so grippingly share the profound insights of his ordeal and even write a book, as he recounts finding God in a place so dark it defies the imagination? Read the full article: aish.com/how-omer-shem-tov-f…

The EPIC night where The Singers of Teshuva and The Singer of Emunah masterfully lift the Chevra of FFBWL’s (“Frum From Birth with Lapses”) to the mountaintop of Ma’mainim Gemurim! 🔥

4 Cheshvan: The Aish Kodesh: R'Kalonymus Kalman Shapira HY"D, the Piacezna Rebbe (acrylic/oil on canvas, 18x24 in) @Yahrtzeits